Atmospheric air isolated curd producing apparatus



L. J. COLLINS ATMOSPHERIC AIR ISOLATED CURD PRODUCING APPARATUS u www LW W l i l A um NWW A n I IA QW Nm\% Wx @www N Wr: n a NN 1 f@ m mm x 5 m WM r www, rllr Q num vlwwlllhuwn l un@ Mm QN. l Nm. |\|QI`I| NNN .3 l o I. M Il A m, R NNE? ML hw Qw FFE. QM nw m .w.% QQ n s mw SWK. ww ms ww j m w L m QN M w...

Sept. 3, 1963 SePf- 3 1953 L. J. cQLLINs 3,102,336

I ATMOSPHERIC AIR ISOLATED CURD PRODUCING APPARATUS Filed March 19, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 3, 1963 ATMOSPHERIC AIR ISQLATED CURD RRODUCING APPARATUS 5 Sheets--Sheei'l 3 Filed March 19, 1962 L. J. coLLlNs 9? f A l INVENTOR.

aan@

47 or): ey

, qualities.

` for maintenance of the tion.

3,102,336` t ATMOSPHERIC AIR lsoLATED CURDv lPRoDUcING APPARATUS Lowell J. Collins, 938 61st St., Oakland, Calif."

FiledMan 19, 1962, Ser. No. 180,543 s 71Clain`1s. v(Cl. 31-48) This invention relates to `improvements injmeans for the productionof curd for making cottage cheese, and

s provides` means which `,effects the production of cottage cheese of linerravor and texture,` with greatly increased `keeping qualities through greatly diminished exposure t tiaminating. gases carried thereb s s In my new process and apparatus, there no exposure the `atmosphere yand the harmful bacteria and possible conuntil the curd is ready for cutting,`as the rnilkis delivered from a sealed ystorage tank which is placed under pressure of puried air during delivery to the sealed vat lwhich remainssealed, also withslight internal pressure the cream `andiany other ingredients added, and the oper-- =`ation completed for the production of cottage cheese, and which cottage cheese can then be delivered directly to marketing containers, thus protecting the cottage cheese against contamination Iand `providing the most delectable cottage cheese with 'Ihough'the production of cottage cheese can he com- I pleted in the apparatus whichis the subject'of this appli# cation, it can also be completed with the same degree .of p isolation `from the atmosphere through the transfer of the washed, undrajned curd through the enclosed transfer sys-- tem disclosed in lmy copending application, Serial Number 10,141, liled February 23, 1960, and my Patent No. 3,016,- 610, issued January 16, 1962, the curd Ibeing drained in the closed cottage cheese mixer. y f

f The objects and advantages of `thewinve'ntion are `as follows:

` First, to provide apparatus for .the culture and process? ing of milk to produceA curd, including the transfer of maximum freshness and keepingi s UnitedStatCS Patent to the :atmosphere from the time that the vat is sterilized i icc 2 head, with the supporting beam and rail shown in' section, and drawn to an enlarged scale. f

, FIG. 3 is a side elevationof FIG. 2 and is shown partly in section, with thesealing portion of the vat only being added. i l Y FIG. 4 is :a broken front elevation of `a verticalcurd cutter land is also drawn to4 enlarged scale.

IFIG. 5 lis a fragmentary enlarged view of the reversible hanger :and locking means for the cutters and pushers, and is shown partly in section.

=FIG. 6` is ran enlarged fragmentary View of non-reversible mounting and locking means, applied to a vertical curd cutter.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cur-d cutter.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a curd pusher and the mounting means and locking means therefor.

FIG. 9 is a section taken on line 9--9 of FIG. 8.V FIG. l() is :atop plan fragmentary view of the pusher and cutter' carriage.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged. fragmentary vent-ical section fragmentary View of a horizontal taken on line 11--11 of FIG. 10. Y

FIG. 12 isan enlarged fragmentary view showing the support and reaction rollers and a portion of the rack.

` FIG. 13 is 1a fragmentary topplan View of one end of ,4 the pusher'land cutter carriage, showing the track wheels,

milk and culture elements toia sealed vat or container VSecond, to ,provide apparatus as outlined which will automatically carry out agitating land bottom clearing operations during the conversion of milk to curd iand whey while maintained against exposure to the atmosphere.

Third, to maintain apparatus as outlined, during -lling and culture processes, under a predetermined pressure above atmospherictof puriiied, bacteria-free air or gas for complete exclusionofiatmospheric Y Fourth,` to provide iapparatuslfas outlined, including a vat and a cover therefor, with the cover sealed to the va during the til-ling and vculture processes. Fifth, to provide agitating means operablein the, sealed processing throughoutr the batch, and retention againstcaki ing on :any portion of the bottom of the lvat.

section :and other portions broken away to disclose interior,

and yexterior constructions, with major portion` of the length of the vat broken out.

batch against bacterial contamina-v reaction roll-ers, driving motor, and the Water seal gutter.

FIG. 14 is fa side elevation of a fragment of the rack ormed by milling.

FIG. `l5 is a section taken on line 15-15 of FIG. 14.

qFIG.' 16 is |a fragmentary side elevation of a modification of the rack as formed by punch-ing'. l The invention includes -a container or vat 20 the walls of which have two partitions or compartments, the inner compartment 21 providing temperature control and throughV which water of suitable temperature is circulated during the various processing steps, While the outer compartment `is shown filled with heat insulation as indicated A gutter or trough 23 extends entirely about the top of the vat, yand includes the inner wall 24, outer wall 25 and bottom Wall`26, the, inner wall also usable as a track.. This troughis iilled with water almost to the .top of the outer Wall 'asindicated at 27 in FIG. 3.

`Other than the sealing'trough, the vat is of substantially conventional construction.

I The hood for cover 28 has .a top wall 29, sidewalls 30A and endwalls 31, the lower ends of al1 walls being formed outwardly :as indicated at 32 to form a'shoulder to lrest on top of the vinner wall, thence depending to form a lip 33 which extends downwardly into the water Seal 34, thus providing a `sealed enclosure.

t the enclosure, and atmospheric ,air would be drawn in lvat for operating throughout the Ventire area of the bottom v of the vat, including ends and corners, for uniformity in FlG. 2 is a topiplan view of the agitator and Scraper i through the water seal. Such introduction of air is undesirable, therefore puried :air is constantly delivered indicated'by the nozzle ,35 lfrom lthe air purier 36 delivered by 'the pump or blower 37, at a pressure slightly above atmospheric in the neighborhood of four to eight pounds per`square foot, just sufficient to cause air to bubble .to a slight degree through the water seal from the interior.`

AsV so far described, the vatV can` be maintained in a sealed. condition except when stirring or agitation is required, and to eliminate such exposure of the contents to the atmosphere, the -agitating means is carried bythe cover and operates automatically. In addition, washing and sterilization is carried out with the unit sealed, for which purpose, the unit 35, 36, 37 may be considered as ai source of suitable washing, rinsing, and sterilizing uids under pressure, as also that of an air purifier.

Following sterilization, as by steam, the milk is introduced through the retractable filler tube 38 which projects thorugh the top of the cover and communicates directly with the source of milk supply. Cultures are also added through the same tube, or a separate passage may be provided for their introduction. During this entire period, the cover is sealed to the vat, and the interior maintained `at a slight pressure above atmospheric by the purified air supply.

Following the preceding procedures, the contents must be agitated, for which purpose agitating means is supported and completely enclosed within 'the cover, and formed throughout of nontarnishable and nonoxidizable material, with bearings which require no lubrication, therefore the system is completely sanitary, with no possibility of contamination of the batch in the vat.

The -operating mechanism for the agitator includes a supporting track 39 which is provided by the cross member of the inverted T-shaped beam having a web 40, the beam projecting through both ends of the cover as indicated at 41 and 42, to provide end supports Afor elevating and lowering the cover, which is accomplished through the medium of the fluid motors 43 and 44 which are simultaneously controlled by identical displacement pumps 47 and 48, with both pumps being driven by the same motor 49, with communication through the pipe lines 45 and 46.

-The traveling agitator head includesan inverted U- shaped frame 50 which spans Ithe tracks 39. Supporting rollers 51 and 52 are oppositely mounted interiorly of the respective side walls of the frame and ride on the upper surface of the tracks. Reaction rollers 53 and 54 are mounted -between the walls beneath the tracks and cooperate therewith to prevent any tilting Iof the operating unit.

A bearing sleeve 55 is provided on one side wall of the frame, the axis of which is located on the transverse center of the cover, for which reason, the beam is laterally offset relative to the transverse center of the cover.

A split bushing 56 slidably fits in the sleeve and is provided with a collar 57 to rest on the top of the sleeve. The agitator shaft 58 has a pinion 59 slidably and nonrrotatably mounted -thereon and cooperates with a rack 60 which is xed on one side of the beam and extends throughout the major portion of the length of the cover.

A collar 61 is fixed on the shaft and supports the shaft on the bushing collar and the pinion on its top surface. A second collar 62 is fixed on the shaft immediately below the bushing. Therefore the pinion can be removed from the shaft at will, and the shaft-bushing assembly also can be removed at will, since raising the shaft will also raise the bushing which can be removed and the v shaft lowered through the sleeve.

Thrust rollers 63 and -64 `are mounted on the frame on the side opposite from the pinion .to counteract the thrust of the pinion. The agitator is fragmentarily shown in FIG. 2, three of the arms being indicated at 65, 66 and 67, radiating from the axis of the shaft.

A threaded bearing or nut 68 is mounted on the underside of the frame, and a screw 69 threadedly operates therein, the terminal end of the screw being rotatably supported in the bearing 70, with the other end operatively connected to a motor 71 which is mounted on the exterior of the end wall of the cover. A control unit 72 is indicated as operatively connected to the motor through a chain drive 73 for reversing the motor at the respective terminals of travel.

The agitator paddles 74 are of the wobble type, having freedom for lateral wobbling, and also being free to raise and lower on the stems which are provided with stops so as to be retained on the arms when the agitator is elevated for attachment to the shaft, the agitator having a sleeve-type hub t77 which is slidable on the shaft. Suit- 4: ,v -able releasable securing means, such as a pin 78 is provided for supporting the agitator on the shaft.

As will be noted, when the screw is rotated in one direction, it moves the agitator head in one direction, with the pinion operating in the rack, causing rotation of the agitator. When the agitator approaches one end of the vat, the motor is reversed, rotating the screw in the opposite direction, retr-acting the head, and rotating the agitator in the opposite direction, these reversals continuing throughout the predetermined agitation period.

As is plainly evident, this rotating agitator cannot clear the corners of the vat, and thus caking may result in these areas during the cooking process, therefore a scraper is provided at each end of the `agitator unit, the scraper having two supporting arms 79 and 80, with the scraper blade 81 slidable on the terminal ends of the `arms which are also provided with the stops 82 for support when the Scrapers are attached to or removed from the head. The scaper arms are removably attached, one method of attachment being indicated as a sleeve 83 and p The arms are separately supported by means of equalizing levers 85 and 86, lever 85 being shown as pivotally mounted on the same axis as the rollers 51 and 52, While the levers 86 are pivotally mounted on drop arms 87 as indicated at 88, the other ends of these levers being respectively connected to the spanning rod 89 and connector 83. The roller 90 is also mounted on the other end of the lever 85 and rides on the track 39.

As the `advance scraper 92 approaches the end wall of the vat, the roller 90 rides up the incline rail 93, raising the scraper blade as indicated at 92' and 92 and upon contacting the end wall 94, the roller drops over the end of the rail at 95 to the position 90', and shown as coincidently closing a switch 96 for reversing the motor 71, with the scraper blade starting in reverse to clear the bottom 97 of the vat'in the areas not accessible to the agitator. Since the inclined rail is pivoted at 98, the roller will lift and pass under the rail as it is retracted. An opposed incline rail is provided at the other end of the beam.

Obviously other means may be provided for reversing the motor 71, as indicated diagrammatically in FIG. l, in which switches 100 and 101 lare mounted on the track and closed when the arm drops to complete circuits respectively from the source of current through line 104, switch 100, line 105, to one solenoid 106 and to the other side of the source 103, Lcausing the reversing switch to close to the contacts 107 for operation of the motor in one direction, and when the operating head reaches the other end, the lever closes the switch 101, completing circuit through line 102, switch 101, line 108 to solenoid 109 and thence to the source 103, reversing the motor through the contacts 110, reversing switches being well known in the art and therefore not requiring detailed illustration or explanation.

After the curd has been formed and the batch has attained a. predetermined pH value, it is necessary to cut and wash the curd, and though cutting and pushing attachments can be mounted in the scraper units 111, a more practical system is provided through the medium of a separate pusher carriage diagrammatically illustrated in RIG. 10, and providing details in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, and which consists Iof a base 112 shown as of box-like structure in which the operating mechanism is housed, and which base is vehicularly supported by the flanged wheels 113 and 114 at each end and which ride on the inner wall of the sealing trough, and when not in use, this pusher carriage is moved back onto a shelf like extension to clear the cover as indicated in FIG. l.

This cam'age can be used for agitating, cutting, scraping, and pushing, and as shown is driven through the medium of a motor 115 with internal speed reduction, with the motor shaft 116 connected directly to a drive pinion 117 which cooperates with a rack 118 which extends throughthecutters and pusher.`

` the discharge.

` bottom vof the vat.

` outthe lengthl ofthe vat' and onto the extension so that the carriage can be` driven Voif the vatto clear thejhood. FIG.` is shown arranged for" pushing in respective directions and also includes. operating imeans for .a pair e of agitators However, inusingfthis device foragitating,

operationis possibleonly` on an uncovered vat, though the' vat .can `be `covered and sealedfthroughout the vlling period, and again after 'agitation hasbeen completed until the curd is ready for cutting.

i vvA shaft 119 'is 'driven througha chain drive 121)v by the pinion-117 is 'lm ountedon the "shaft1281 `and driven -in the opposite direction relative to the one mounted on the motor-shaft, andlcooperates with another` rack 118 mount` ed on that side of the ,vatp Obviously operation isnot l.limited to chain drives, as gearing could besubstituted throughout, `'chaind'rives proving more economical. i The carriage is provided with means 1 31 for mounting cutters are transposed, to cut the horizontally Icrut Reaction rollers 132 operateunder a suitable rail, such f `j as-theund'erside 133 of trough, or 134 of rack 118, and

` ,aref mounted in one arm 135 ofa bracket 136, with the wheels 113,114, mounted on the `otherarm 137.

The rack is most economically produced by either milling a-pstructurakangle 138 as indicated `at ,139, .on punchto suitably clear the teeth of the pinion 117. ff

r However",` achain and sprocket can be substituted for ing as shownin FIG.l 16- yat 140, the passages being formed y thepinion and rack, `or standardtoothed rack may beused when` `cost is not an 'important factor. v i

It will be noted that inF-IG. 3, a pipeline withnozzles projecting into 'the `top of the cover,- `together with a pump are shown, and` which may be considered in connection 1 with thejpuriedair apparatus shown'in FIG, 1', fthe pipeline `141, nozzles ,142,` andfpurnp 143 comprisingithe awashving, 'rinsin'g,and` sterilizing apparatus. l f Theipusher, for pushing. the curdl toward the discharge V1.44, iS Suitably Iernovably mounted on the front 145 of the, carriage,` when pushing toward the discharge, and is shown Vas'lincluding `a hook-146 which engages over a rod 147 as indicated -at- 148,; the rod being anchored in ears 149 and 150. Locking means is yprovided and consists of an arcuate member 151 which vvhas ears 152 and v153 pivoted on the rod 147. Asshownin FIG.` 9, 'the lock is in released position. Forlocking, the locking means `is swung over thev hook as indicated in FIG. 8, and dotted for passage `of wash water as the curd is pushed'toward The cutters are formed 4similar to the pusher so far las removable mounting is concerned, but each consists of a frame 156, each slightly less. than one half thewidth of the vat, with one having cutting wires 157 and reinforce- `ments 158 in aver'tical position while the other 1159 has the wires 157 'andreinforcements `o`r struts with y sharp cutting edge -ina horizontal position.

A modification of the attaching means is shown inl ll FIG. 4 and consists'of .a :gibway i160 at each end of the v carriage or pusher, in which the pusher in FIG. 8 is merely slid to rest on the bottom;4 However, since the *cutters i are madefonly half the width ofy the vat, it will he necessary to make thepusher in two sections also, and provide opposed gibwa'ys161, 162 atthe center of the carrier.

`AThe `lower end of the pusher, and of the cutters lare incljinedly formed as vindicated at -16`3`f`t conform to the Another modification is shown in FIG. 5 vl'in which two `side of the vat.`-

Tlie cutting .is kcarried out -by mounting a horizontal cutter on one end of the carriage and a vertical cutter on1 .friage and mountthe cutters on thev rear `of the carriage.

I 1 claim:

1. In .ajvat having la cover including means for releasably sealingsaid cover to the vat 'for maintenance f yagainst ingress of atmospheric air, and including support meansfor the cover, an-d meansfor elevating and lower- 'ing .said cover at will, agitating means comprising p a track mounted in and extending throughout the length of the cover, and including track support means,

` an agitator head vehicularly mounted on said track' and having. t ian' agitator shaft rotatably mounted on a vertical axis,

`an agitator releasably mountable on said shaft forrotation therewith, Y e power means having Ian `operati-ve connection with said agitator head for driving said Aagitator head substantially throughout the length of the cover,-l

means cooperative between the shaft and means on the track support means for rotating said shaft as the agi- Y tator head is dri-ven along said track, and including means-for. reversing the 'direction of travel and rotation of J `the agitating means Vas the agitator head closely approach-esthe end of the track,

said .agitator head 'having a frame Vincluding opposed side walls, J I

a pair of vertically spaced Ileverspivotally mounted on each end on the opposed walls,

each pair having a connection between their free ends on the track support means and located :adjacent the l' ends of the track, with the rollers riding up the inclined rails to lift the scrapers'above the bottom wall, and

the rollers. passing over the upper ends of the tracks `and dropping 'back on the track for engagement of v .the scraper with the bottom wall 4at the point of juncture to the end wall of the vat.

2. In a milk processing vat or'produ-ction of curd, said vat having side walls, end walls, and a bottom, and 'a hood having side walls, end walls, andra top, Iand curd iagitating means .and operating means therefor housed within said hood, means for sealing said hood on said vat for maintaining the contents thereof isolated from bacteria carrying atmospheric air, comprising sealing means including an encompassing trough about the top of said vat and havin-g an inside wall, a bottom and having a sealing liquid therein, lwith the hood having lan encompassing shoulder fo support on sai-d inside wall, and an encompassing `sealing element [depending from said shoulder and Ibottom of the trough :and thereby forming a sealed enclosure, with the liquid seal divided between the interior Iand exterior of the vat, y

a source of bacteria-free fluid under pressure slightly in excess of the head of liquid in the trough to create having a lower edge in slightly spaced relation to the slight `bubbling from the interior through the liquid tothe exterior and thus prevent ingress of bacterialaden :atmospheric air. f

3. A structure as defined in claim 2,

a beam extending through both ends of said hood and elevating and lowering means cooperative with each end of the beam,

agitating means,

operating means supported by said beam and operable therealong and having the agitating means `oper-a- -tively connected thereto,

said operating means including 1a rack extending along one side of said beam, and

Ia carrier vehicularly mounted on said beam and having a gear meshing with said rack for rotatably operating the agitating means,

means `for advancing and retracting said carrier including motor operated means operatively associated with said carrier and including a motor mounted exteriorly of one end vwall for protection against heat land moisture Within the enclosure, and incluiding means for reversing the motor at the respective terminals of travel of the carrier,

and means cooperative with the respective ends of the beam for elevating and lowering said hood at will.

4. A structure as defined in claim 3, said operating means including a scraper supported in clearing relation forwardly and rearwardly of the sweep of the agitating means and operative across the Width of the vat, and hingedly supported 'by said carrier, and each having a roller,

an inclined rail for each end of the beam and each having its high end pivotally mounted on said beam and its low end at the terminal of travel of the carrier, and

with the roller riding up the inclined rail during terminal travel `of the carrier for elevating the scraper to clear the bottom las it approaches the end Wall, with the roller dropping over the high end vto release the scraper to drop to the bottom Wall at its juncture with the end wall, for

retraction of curd upon reversal of the direction of travel of the carrier for maintaining the bottom free of caking in areas inaccessible to the agitating means, with the roller riding under and llifting the lower end of the inclined rail upon retraction by the carrier.

5. In a vat having a hood having ends and including means for releasably sealing said hood to said vat for maintenance against ingress of bacteria-laden atmospheric air, and inclu-ding support means for the cover,

agitating means comprising an inverted beam having a yweb and flanges and extending through the respective ends of the cover with the anges functioning as rails,

ia carrier vehicularly mounted on said rails and having :an agitator shaft rotatably mounted on a vertical axis, and an agitator releasably mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith,

a rack mounted on said web and a gear on said shaft meshing with said rack for rotating said agitator, power means having an operative connection with said carrier for advancing and retracting said carrier and including a motor mounted exteriorly of one end of the hood and also including yreversing means cooperative at each terminal of travel of the carrier for reversing the motor.

6. A structure as defined in claim 5, in which said operative connection with said carrier consists of ya screw extending throughout the length'of travel of the carrier and operating in a threaded passage formed ina portion of said carrier, and having a reduced speed connection to said motor.

7. A structure as defined in claim 5,

a lui-d'motor for each end of the vat and having each a cylinder and a piston, with the pistons operatively connected to the respective ends of the beam, and the cylinders mounted on the ends of the vats, and a source of uid under pressure tor said motors.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN A VAT HAVING A COVER INCLUDING MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SEALING SAID COVER TO THE VAT FOR MAINTENANCE AGAINST INGRESS OF ATMOSPHERIC AIR, AND INCLUDING SUPPORT MEANS FOR THE COVER, AND MEANS FOR ELEVATING AND LOWERING SAID COVER AT WILL, AGITATING MEANS COMPRISING A TRACK MOUNTED IN AND EXTENDING THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF THE COVER, AND INCLUDING TRACK SUPPORT MEANS, AN AGITATOR HEAD VEHICULARLY MOUNTED ON SAID TRACK AND HAVING AN AGITATOR SHAFT ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON A VERTICAL AXIS, AN AGITATOR RELEASABLY MOUNTABLE ON SAID SHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, POWER MEANS HAVING AN OPERATIVE CONNECTION WITH SAID AGITATOR HEAD FOR DRIVING SAID AGITATOR HEAD SUBSTANTIALLY THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH OF THE COVER, MEANS COOPERATIVE BETWEEN THE SHAFT AND MEANS ON THE TRACK SUPPORT MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID SHAFT AS THE AGITATOR HEAD IS DRIVEN ALONG SAID TRACK, AND INCLUDING MEANS FOR REVERSING THE DIRECTION OF TRAVEL AND ROTATION OF THE AGITATING MEANS AS THE AGITATOR HEAD CLOSELY APPROACHES THE END OF THE TRACK, 